Apparatus for electrolysis.



P. A. EMANUEL.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYSIS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.24, 1917.

1,263,31.. Patented Ap1x16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. x7

P. A. EMANUEL.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYSIS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 24. Ian.

1,963,314., Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IIIIII H ll III! '&\

Specification!!! Letters Patent. 1

a. at, or amen, scorn as i TUS FOR ELECTLYSIS.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application flld December 24, 1917. Serial No. 208,638.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP A. EMANUEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aiken, in the county of Aiken and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ap aratus for Electrolysis; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for electrolysis in which acidulated water, for instance, is disassociated and the component gases liberated during the electrolysis are collected; the principal object of my present invention bemg to so construct the contalner 1n which the electrolysis takes place as to provide against the h drogen and oxygen gas commingling, an to cause such gases to automatlcally ascend from the container or cell to independent tanks provided to separatelfy receive same; and which tanks are also pre erably supplied with additional electrolyte for replenishing the cellconstantly or from time to time, and with hydrogen and oxygen as under ressure, which will both assist in driving t e electrolyte down into the cell beneath and, further, will have the effect to place the cell under pressure and cause the electrolysis to proceed under pressure, under which circumstances greatly improved results are obtained.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding arts in the several views:

v Figure 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through such apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a partition employed in the cell and illustrated on a smaller scale; and

Fi 4 is a central sectional view through a cel showing a slight modification.

Referrin more particularly to the drawings, 1 an 2 deslgnate opaposite parts or sections servin as electr es and which, when united, orm the container or cell such sections being preferably constructed substantially hemispherical and practically after the manner of the Magdeburg spheres.

These container sections 1 and 2 are united by belts, or suitable 8 passing through perforations in circular flanges 4 and 5 made integral with the sections 1 and 2, respectively, and between which is interposed a suitable insulation. The perforated platinum, or other plates 6 and 7 are fitted in opposite sections of the container in any suitable manner.

In that form of my invention shown in Fig. 2, the insulation between the circular flanges 4 and 5 is provided by the outer part of a disk 8 of mica, or other suitable insulating material. This mica disk 8 extends centrally through the container, and forms a partition which prevents the hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are liberated at the negative and positive electrodes respectively, to commingle in the cell. However, to allow the electrolytic action to take place I find it necessary to make an opening 9 in said mica disk 8, which may be of any suitable size, at the lower part thereof.

Referring in detail to Fig. 4, the partition in this instance may consist of a disk 10 of a porous material, such as asbestos, leather or wood, such that the electrolyte may pass through the pores thereof in order that the electrol tic action be not interfered with, but suc partition being effective to prevent the passage and mixing of the'two gases.

A pipe 11 provides for the entrance of the electrolyte, such pipe being under the control of a valve 12. At the upper part ofthe cell the sections 1 and 2 are formed with openings to receive pipes 13 and 14, having valves 15 and 16 included therein, and for controlling the flow of additional electrolyte which is held in separate tanks 17 and 18 in communication with the pipes 13 and 14 above the cell. For the sake of compactness and that the same may be brought together, these tanks 17 and 18 are also preferably substantially hemispherical in shape.

The electrolyte may be delivered to the tanks 17'and 18 through pipes 19 and 20 having valves 21 and 22. These pipes 19 and 20 also provide for charging the tanks 17 and 18, respectively, with hydrogen and oxygen gas under pressure, the degree of which may be read from the gages 23 and 24.

A source of--electric current is indicated at 25, and at 26 and 27 appear conductors which are connected to the source 25 and to the pipes 18 and 20, so as to place the 00%- tainer or cell in an electric circuit.

The action of the apparatus is substantially as follows:

After the cell has m do,

lated water or other fluid to be disassociated, may be either fed thereto through the pipe 11 or through the pipes 13 and 14 from the containers 17 and 18. The containers 17 and 18 are then filled to substantially the level shown in Fig. 2, with the acidulated water, and thereafter hydrogen is introduced into the tank 17 under a suitable pressure, and the tank 18 is similarly charged with oxygen gas under pressure.

The valves 15 and 16 are opened and the cell placed in a closed circuit. The electrolytic action will then commence, and in ac-- cordance with the principles of ionization, the hydrogen liberated from the acidulated water will be attracted to the platinum perforated disk 6 and the inner wall of the container section 1, which forms, with said disk 8, the negative electrode. At the same time the oxygen gas will be evolved in the o posite half 2 of the container; the electrolytic action being free to take place through the opening 9 in the mica disk 8. As the hydrogen and oxygen are evolved they will ascend through the acidulated water to the upper part of the container or cell, but as the partition 8 is placed between the two electrodes these gases will be prevented from commingling, and in their separated state they will pass into their respective tanks 17 and 18 where they will join the gas under pressure in the upper parts of said tanks and assist to maintain the pressure therein as the acidulated water descends in obedience to consumption demands in-the cell below.

If found advisable, the valves 15 and 16 may be closed after sufiicient acidulated water has been delivered to the cell, and until the progress of the electrolysis becomes weak owing to lack of fresh acidulated water; at which time the valves 15 and 16 are again opened to permit the escape of the accumulated hydro en and oxygen gas, and the descent of su cient acidulated water to maintain a lively action in the cell.

The container or cell is made of nickel, iron, or other suitable metal, and may, if desired, be platinized on the interior. The

' flanges 4 and 5, as also the exterior of the container, or cell, may be coated with glass enamel.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore 1 do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for electrolysis, the combination of a container composed of substantially hemispherical sections having flanges, means for securing said flanges together, insulation interposed between said .flanges, perforated disks held by said sections, a partition between said sections and plates for preventing the liberated gases from commmgling in said container, separate tanks above said container, separate means connecting said tanks with opposite sections of said container for independently receiving the gases evolved in the electrolydisk in each section, a partition separating said sections and disks adapted not to interfere with the progress of the electrolysis but serving to prevent the evolved gases from commingling, substantially hemispherical tanks above said container, electrolyte contained in said tanks and container, separate means for establishing communication betweenopposite sections of said container and said tanks, and oxygen and hydrogen gas under pressure in the respective tanks adapted to drive the electrolyte therein down into said container and to place said container under pressure and an electric circuit including said container sections, disks and electrolyte, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for electrolysis, the combination of a container composed of substantially hemispherical sections having flanges, means for connecting said flanges,

insulation between said flanges, a perforated metallic disk in each section, a partition separating said sections and disks and adapted not to interfere with the progress of the electrolysis but serving to prevent the evolved gases from commingling, substantially hemispherical tanks above said container, a pipe connecting one of said tanks with one of the container sections, a second separate pipe for connecting the other tank with the opposite container section, valves in said pipes, electrolyte contained in said tanks, pipes and container, means for placing the container and tanks under pressure, and an electric circuit includin said tanks, container sections, perforated disks and electrolyte, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, ll my siature. 1 a 2' I PHILIP A. EMANUEL. 

